The Plight Before Christmas by Kate Stewart Published by Self-Published on December 19, 2021
Pages: 419
Format: ARC
Genres: Romantic Comedy
Amazon
Clark Griswold was onto something, at least with his annual holiday meltdown. And since the last three weeks of my life have been riddled with humbug—another breakup, a broken toe, an office promotion I deserved and didn’t get—I’m not at all in the mood to celebrate nor have the happ, happ, happiest Christmas EVER.
When Mom insisted that we all gather at my Grandparent’s ancient cabin for an old school family Christmas, I fully intended to get into the holiday spirit with the help of the three wise men, Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniels, and Jim Beam. But those boys did absolutely nothing to offset the shock or temper the sting of seeing my EX on our doorstep the first day of our holiday soiree.
Apparently, Santa missed the memo, and this elf is pissed.
Stuck for a week with the man who obliterated my heart nearly two decades ago, I did the only thing I could do and put on my game face, thankful for the home advantage.
I knew better than to drink that last cup of eggnog.
I knew better than to get tongue tangled beneath the mistletoe with the only man to ever break my heart.
I knew better than to sleep with Satan’s wingman on the eve of the Lord’s birthday.
I could blame the nog. I could blame the deceitful light blue eyes, thick, angelic hair, and panty evaporating smirk…but mostly, I blame Eli because he always knew exactly which of my buttons to push.
I foolishly thought a family Christmas filled with nostalgia was going to turn my inner Scrooge around, but this year’s festivities went up in flames. Leave it to the ghost of my Christmas past to be the one to light the match.
Fa la la la la la, FML.
Looking for a holiday romance that is impossible to put down and guaranteed to put you in the Christmas spirit? Look no further. The Plight Before Christmas, the utterly delightful holiday rom com by Kate Stewart, has you covered.
Where do I start? Just go ahead and check all my boxes. Second chance romance? Check. A barrage of smiles? Got it. Tug at your heartstrings? You know it. A family I adored? Double check. Winter wonderland? Of course. Insane chemistry? Checkarooni. Heck, there’s even a meet cute flashback thrown in. What more could I ask for?!
Down-on-her-luck Whitney Collins spends the week before Christmas with her entire family at her family’s cabin. In between the constant festivities, close quarters, and an unwelcome surprise visit from Eli,her college ex-boyfriend/first love, hilarity and tension ensue. I was massively entertained by all the Christmas activities and lighthearted ribbing. I seriously wanted to become an honorary member of the Collins family.
Whitney has a huge heart and unselfishly gives 110% of herself to her job and loved ones—sometimes to her own detriment. Eli causes Whitney to reflect on her life choices, and she makes him work hard to get back in her good graces. I loved these two together with their perfect slow burn chemistry and banter.
The book is clearly a romantic comedy. My cheeks got a good workout from smiling so much. However, I was pleasantly surprised by just how touching and real the relationships between the characters are.
There are many endearing side characters in the story. I was impressed by how the author gives each one a distinctive personality. Whitney’s little nephew, Peyton, is absolutely adorable! His “bonding” time with Eli will make your ovaries explode. Whitney’s sister, Serena, is a firecracker, and her snark is on point. I was also crazy about Whitney’s energetic mother and father. I loved all the tender and comical family dynamics.
I grew sad the closer I came to the end of this book because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the wonderful characters or the setting. The Plight Before Christmas is just what I didn’t know I needed. It’s the best holiday romantic comedy I’ve read.
Recommended for fans of:
Holiday romance
Elvis
Second chance romance
Romantic comedy
Adorable toddlers
** I received an early copy to voluntarily read and review. **
About Kate Stewart
USA Today bestselling author and Texas native, Kate Stewart, lives in North Carolina with her husband, Nick, and her naughty beagle, Sadie. She pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance, as well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense. Kate’s title, Drive, was named one of the best romances of 2017 by The New York Daily News and Huffington Post. Drive was also a finalist in the Goodreads Choice awards for best contemporary romance of 2017. Her works have been featured in USA Today, BuzzFeed, and translated in five languages.
Kate is a lover of all things ‘80s and ‘90s, especially John Hughes films and rap. She dabbles a little in photography, can knit a simple stitch scarf for necessity, and on occasion, does very well at whiskey.
I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to this one at the end either. Such a good book!